'Contagion' trailer spreads the fear

The first trailer for director Steven Soderbergh's new film "Contagion" has been released - and it's clear by the end that Gwyneth Paltrow will not see the credits.

The actress is part of a stellar ensemble cast that includes Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne and others as they struggle to halt the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days.

Sure, it may all sound familiar - Hollywood has gone after the pandemic scene before. But Soderbergh has a knack for producing some really thoughtful and engaging work, so an updated look at how susceptible our world is to such a virus may hit just the right nerve in his hands.

Participant Media, one of the studios behind the film, has also created a small information portal on their social media site Take Part that delves a bit deeper into the pandemic topic.

"Emerging diseases of non-human origin, known as zoonotics, have the greatest potential to spread through the human population, as we have no previous antibodies to defend against them," the site reads. It then offers a ridiculously brief selection of tips for preparing for a pandemic - like keeping a two-week supply of bottled water for everyone in your family and how to sneeze properly.
Couple that advice with how to prepare for a zombie invasion, and you should be good to go for the end of the world. Check out the trailer below.